Ball-gaging machine.



E. E. NEAL.

BALL GAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men JULY 12. 1911.

Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS SHEET I.

E, E. NEAL. BALL GAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILIED JULY 12, 1911.

Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

4. m MZWXQQ- E. E. NEAL.

1',l66,537, I Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

UNITED sra'rns PA ENTDFFIQR.

ELMEB .E. NEAL, or RRIsroL, oommorron'r. ASSIGNOR To THE NEW DEPARTUREMANUFACTURING COMPANY, or BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION or con-NECTICUT.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ELMER E. NEAL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at vwhich purpose it is verydesirable sizes, particularly those spherical steel balls manufacturedfor use in ball bearings for .have balls of exactly the same size. It i'wellknown that all balls coming from the same not exactly of.

ball-grinding machine are the same size although they vary but slightlyand the differences are usually measured by the thousandths of an inch.

One object of my invention is to provide a machine for accurately gagingand separatingthese balls according to size and for carefullydiscriminating between balls differing in diameter by the slightestamount.

To this end and also to improve generally upon devices of-the characterindicated my invention consists in the following matters hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

The present machine is of that general.

class employing an expanding slot along which the balls are adapted totravel and through which the balls will pass when reaching a Widthcorresponding to their diameter. Usually in machines of this character,however, the slotted track or guideway along which the balls travel hasbeen arranged at an incline so that the balls will roll down the same bygravity, and due to their increased momentum as they travel along theslot the balls often over run the point where they should normally dropthrough. Furthermore if the defining edges or sides of the slot areadjusted to diverge -with a very slight angle so as to obtain finedistinctions between different sizes of.

balls, the balls will not roll along the same to a point where they willfreely fall through but will have a tendency to'gradually sink throughthe slot as they roll along under the force of gravity until they wedgeor stick, and thus obstruct other balls coming down the guideway andhold up the operation of the machine. For the above reasons the old formof machine must be operated very slowly and for continual operation theconstant attention of an opera- I Specification of Letters Patent.Application filed July 12, 1911. Serial m3. 638,072.

' an enlarged BALL-GAGING MACHINE.

i Patented J an. 4:, 1916.

tor is required. To avoid the tendency of balls to wedge as they rolldown the inclined slot, the sides of the slot in these old machines wereusually brought to a sharp knife edge, which knife edge very quicklydeteriorated and lost its straightness under the traveling friction ofthe balls so that for. any accurate gaging frequent replacement orregrindingof these-sharp I straight edges wasnecessary.

It will be'apparent from the 'principle of .operation of my machinehereinafter described that the sides of the slot, instead of beingsharp, may be'made of considerable width, in order to provide a wearingsurface and yet attain the-accurate gaging desired.

It is understood of course that the particular machine shown anddescribed in the present application illustrates merely a preferred formof construction and arrange-- .ment of parts which, it hasbeen found,will successfully carry out the principles of my invention, and thatvarious changes and modifications of details may be easily made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings which show the preferred embodiment of my invention Fire 1 is a longitudinal section of the machine; Fig. 2 is; a-detailsection through the upper end ofythe feeding .tube along'line 2 2 ofvFig. 1 or line2"2 of Fig. L; Fig. 3 is a detached plan of the slottedguideway; Fig. 4 is a section through the lower end of the feedinghopper along line 44 of Fig. 1 and showing the stationary bottom of saidhopper in plan; Fig. 5 a detail perspective of a portion of theseparating device or sorting comb; Figs. 6 and 7 are en-' 'larged,detailed cross-sections of the slotted tion of the defining edges ofsaid slot showing their wearing surfaces; Fig. 9 is a detailsection ofthe lower end of the feeding tube through'line 8.8- Fig.. 1; and Fig. 101s detail showingthe lifting action of the propelling device'upon aball.

Referring more particularly to the drawi'ngs, the main frame of themachine is indicated at 1 and preferably supported on the upper side ortable 2 of this main frame are rails 3 spaced apart to form a slottedguideway as shown in Fig. 3. These rails are preferably disposed so thattheir inner gaging slot defining edges or sides 3 diverge slightly alongtheir length to form a gaging slot expanding from the narrow end 5 tothe broader end 4 as shown in Fig. 3. It is obvious that curved railsforming a curved or circular expanding slot might be equally well used.Any suitable adjustable clamps such as 29 may be employed to accuratelyspace and hold the rails 3 in position. it is clear that a sphericalball such as 32 shown in Fig. 3 traveling along the slotted gagingguideway formed by the rails 3 will finally reach a width of the slotcorresponding to its diameter, whereupon it will drop through and it isequally clear that balls of difierent sizes will drop through atdifferent points along this slot. By providing a separating device belowthe slot for collecting in different receptacles the balls which fallthrough at different points, the assorting and separating of said ballsis accomplished. This slotted guideway is preferably arranged in ahorizontal position as shown in Fig. 1 although of course it may beinclined from either end without a material change, since I provideapositive controlling means for causing the balls to travel along thesame. This positive controlling device is preferably in the form of alongitudinally rotating screw 6 located adjacent the slot preferably atthe lower side as shown, and mounted in bearings 8 and 9 at the upperside of the frame 1, and it may be driven in any suitable manner as bymeans of beveled gears lland 12 from the driving shaft 13 having apulley 14 there on adapted to receive power from a driving belt. Thescrew 6 is preferably disposed with its thread 7 adjacent the lower edgeof the slot as shown in Figss 6 and 7 so as to engage the lower side ofthe balls 32 resting upon the rails 3, and it is obvious that whenrotating, the thread 7 acts to propel or control the travel of the ballsalong the slot until they reach a point where they will pass through.The propelling screw 6 may be disposed above the slot, but I preferablylocate it below the same so that the thread 7 will engagerthe.

lower side of the ball 32 below its center as shown in Figs. 6 and 10and give a slight lifting effectto counteract the tractional efiect ofgravity on the ball. This insures an easy travel of the ball along therails 3 and prevents anyi'tendency of the same to gradually sink throughthe defining edges 3 and wedge a: is the case when gravity alone isrelied upon to carry the balls along the guideway. Figs. 6 and 7illustrate this quite clearly in which Fig. 6 shows the ball 32. restingupon the defining edges 3 with means? the thread 7 of the screw inengagement therewith, while lFig. shows a ball in two plositions in theact of passing through said 5 ct.

Evidently, because of the lifting effect the propelling means, whichprevents the wedging of the balls between the sides of the slot, ll amnot confined to the use of the quick wearing knife edges of the oldmachines but, on the contrary, may well use com paratively thick slotdefining sides such, for example, as those indicated at 3 in Fig. 8,thus materially increasing the period of time during which a slot sidecan be used without regrinding.

By providing a gage slot whose sides are in efi'ect relatively fixeddefinite edges and by providing a propelling and controlling means (6.9., the screw) which forms no part of the gage slot-ll eliminate theinherent inaccuracies, excessive wear and impossibility of accuratefirst grinding or subsequent regrinding necessarily incident to thosemachines in which a screw is also utilized as a side of the gradingaperture.

By the use of a screw or the like T provide a means for propelling theballs which controls their speed and also partially supports themthereby preventing them from jamming in the guideway under their own. 1weight. Moreover ll also provide a travelcontrolling means which at alltimes and as long as a ball remains above the slot permits the ball toremain in contact with the slot sides thereby to travel over everyportion of the slot sides just up to the proper gage-point. Thustherecan be no possibility, such as occurs in step by step machines,either -of a ball, being carried ahead of the proper gage-pointer of a.ball being forcibly driven through the slot be- -hind the proper'gage-point by the force resulting from the falling or;dropp1ng of theball from above the slot into it.

Although I have shown my controlling or propelling device preferably inthe form of a rotating screw, nevertheless it is obvious that othermovable devices mav be employed to engage the ball for positivelycarrying the same along the guideway in the manner herein shown.

- A preferred form of a. feeding means for I supplying the ballssuccessively to dne end of the slotted guideway is herein shown whichcombines very efiectively withsaid controlling device in feeding theballs thereto singly so that thev may be taken care of and carried alongsaid slotted guideway, one ata time. The feedingdevice herein shown ispreferably constructed in the form of a. rotating hopper in which theexterior shell 23 and false bottom 22 are arranged to rotate togetherover a stationary bottom 18 fixed to a stationary p'ortionof the framesuch as 17.

, eral slot which may be slightly wider than the diameters of the ballscarried in said hopper. The stationary bottom 18 lying below this slot'may have at different points around its periphery outlet feeding tubeopenings such as 25 leading to separate gaging devices such as the oneherein shown and described. The feeding tube 25 of the hopper is shownmore clearly. in Figs 2 and 9 and is cut away at its upper end and atone side, as at 26, and a runway 24 in the bottom 18 leads to theopening 26. The front lower portion of sa'id'feeding tube 25 adjacentthe slotted guideway 33 is also su-fliciently cut away as shown at 27 toallow. the balls to issue therefrom in single file. It is obvious thatthe balls contained within the hopper are in constant agitation whenthesame is rotated and are continually rolling around the peripheralportion of bottom 18 within the peripheral slot of said rotating hopperand are constantly trying to find an outlet through the feeding tube ortubes 25, due to the said rolling travel and the pressure of the ballsabove. The run-way or groove 24 leading to the feeding tube 25facilitates the feeding of the balls therethrough while the cut awayportion 27 at the bottom of said tube absolutely insures one ballat atime being removed therefrom by the thread 7 of the rotating screw 6. sI

The means for collecting and keeping separate the balls of differentsizes which.

fall through the slotted guideways at different places is preferablyconstructed as shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, and consists of acomb-like structure with alternately disposed inclined guideways .30leading to collecting tubes 15 at each side of the same, which tubes mayempty into suitable receptacles such as 16 located at any convenientplace. The comb-like separating device 30 is of course placed directlybelow the slot of the guideway 33as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 so that theballs dropping-through said slot will be received in one or the other ofthe guiding slots 30 and directed to its proper receptacle 16.

The rotating screw 6 in no way interferes with the passing of the ballsdownwardly to this separating comb as the slots at the upper side of thesame extend beyond the.width of said screw at each side as shown.

gravity if g I therefore do not wish to confine myself to tained intherOtating hopper will be suc- 70 stream cessively fed in a continuousthrough feeding tube '25 to the narrow end of the slotted guidewayformed 'by the rails 38. The rotating screw 6 by means of its thread?picks off one ball at a time from 75 the lower end of the tube 25 andcarries the same along said slotted guidewayuntil the ball reaches aplacein the slot equal to its diameter, whereupon it will fall throughand be "deflected by the guide slots 30 into so 7 areceptacle where. allballs of equal size will besimilarly gaged and directed. It.

is evident that the screw 6 herein shown acts as both a propellingdevice and a controlling device, acting to propel the balls 8-5positively when said slotted guideway is horizontal or inclinedupwardly, and controlling the over-running of the balls by said'slot isinclined downwardly.

any particular form of controlling device for producing this uniformspeed of travel of the balls along the expanding slot, as, many' andvarious other forms Wlll be quickly apparent when once' the advantageousresults are appreciated by the use of the preferred construction hereinshown.

It will be seen that I have provided a de vice of the characterindicated which provides for the properdelivery of the arti- 10G cles tobe gaged to the gaging slot, in which the uniform constant travel of thearticles along the sides of the gaging slot ]U.St up to the propergaging point is lnsured, in

which the articles are partially supported 1'05 in their travel alongthe .slot'thereby preventing their jamming in the slot due to theirpartial sinking therethrough under their own weight, in which the sidesof the gaging slot can be accurately ground, re-

ground, and rigidly set with relation to each other and which withal iseflicient, simple, precise and comparatively inexpensive to build andoperate.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 2- 1. In a device of the characterindicated, in combination, a gaging guideway presentin a ga ged areadapted to travel in contact with the sides thereof, said slot havingrelatively fixed sides at different distances from each other, and-meansfor at all. times partlally supporting each entire travel along saidtially as described. y

2. In a device of the character indicated,

guideway substan- 'in combination, a gagingguideway presenting a gagingslot having thick, rela- 130 gaging slot along which articles to be ofsaid articles during its tively fixed wearing and gaging sides atdifi'erent distances from each other and along which the articles to begaged are adapted to travel in contact therewith, and means for at alltimes partially supporting each of said articles during its entiretravel along said guideway; substantially as described. I a K 3., lln adevice of the character indicated, in combination, a gaging guidewaypresenting a gaging slot along which the articles to be gaged areadapted to travel in contact with the sides thereof, said slot havingrelatively fixed sides at diiderent distances from each other, and meansfor causing the articles to travel under control, such means constructedand positioned to at all times partially support each of said articlesduring its entire travel along said guideway; substantially asdescribed. a v

4C. In amachine far gaging and separating balls, in combination, aslotted guideway along which said balls are adapted to travel in Contacttherewith, said slot having fixed sides gradually diverging along theirlength whereby balls of difierent sizes are adapted to pass through saidslot at difierent points along the same, and means for propelling saidballs along said guideway while at the same time continually acting toofiset the tractional efi'ect of gravity on saidballs during theirtravel; substantially as described.

5. lln a machine for gaging and separating balls, in combination, aslotted guideway along which said balls are adapted to travel, said slothaving fixed sides gradually diverging along their length, wherebyballsof dif ferent sizes are adapted to pass through said slot atdifierent points along the same," a feeding hopper containing a supplyof balls and having a stationary unobstructed outlet extending to saidguideway large enough for one ball at a time to pass therein, saidhopper being moved bodily to Keep said balls in continual agitation oversaid outlet, whereby said balls are continually and in closely;

adjacent relationship fed through said outlet and means for preservingsaid relationship and causing the balls to travel under control alongsaid guideway; substantially as described.

6. In a machine for gaging and separating balls, in combination, aslotted guideway along which said balls areadaptedto travel, said slothaving fixed sides gradually diverging along their length, whereby ballsof difierent sizes are adapted to pass through said slot at differentpoints alongthe same, a

a rotating feeding hopper containing a supply of balls comprising acylindrical shell and conical bottom rotating therewith, said bottombeing inclined downwardly from its center toward said shell and spacedtherefrom to form a peripheral slot, and a statlonary supporting portionbeneath said slot inens 7. In a device of the character indicated,

in combination, a gaging guideway presenting a gaging slot along whichthe articles to be gaged are adapted to travel in contact with the sidesthereof, said slot having relatively fixed sides at difierent distancesfrom each. other, and means for at all times par tially supporting eachof said articles during its entire travel along said guideway but alwayspermitting each of said articles to remain in contact with the sides ofsaid slot'during its entire travel therealong; substantially asdescribed.

8. lln a device of the character indicated, in combination, a gagingguideway pre senting a gaging slot along which articles and at all timespermitting each of said articles to pass clear of said slot at the gage:point on said guide way accurately corre sponding to such article;substantially as described. I

9. In a machine for gaging and separat' ing balls, in combination, aslotted guideway along which said balls are adapted to travel in contacttherewith, said slot having fixed sides gradually diverging along theirlength whereby balls of different sizes are adapted to pass through saidslot at different points along the same, and means for propelling saidballs along said guideway ,while at the same time continually acting tooffset the tractional eilect of gravity on said balls during theirtravel and at all "times permitting each of said articles to pass clearof said slot at the gage-point on said guideway accurately correspondingto such article; substantially as described.

10. In a device of the character indicated, in combination, a gagingguideway presenting a gaging slot along which the articles to be gagedare adapted to travel in contact with the sidesthereof, said slot havingrelatively fixed sides at difierent distances from each other, and meansfor at all times partially supporting each of said articles during itsentire travel along said guideway but always permitting each of saidarticles to remain in contact with the sides of said slot during itsentire travel therealong and topass clearof said slot at the gag -Phaving fixed gradually diverging sides providing a trackway along whichthe balls to be gaged travel, and a rotating screw adjacent said slotand having its threads in position to contact said balls and controltheir travel, said screw being located be low said slot with its threadsin position to contact said balls below their centers where by saidscrew while controlling the travel of the balls continually exerts alifting effect upon them; substantially as described.

12. In a machine for gaging and separating balls, elements presenting agaging slot having fixed gradually diverging sides providing a trackwayalong which the balls to be gaged travel, and a rotating screw adjacentsaid slot and having its threads in position to contact said balls tocontrol their travel, said screw being located below said slot andhavingits threads of suflicient height above the shank of said screw ands0 spaced as to permit the balls to pass clear of said slot at thegage-points thereof accurately corresponding to their respectivediameters and said screw having its threads in position to contact saidballs below their centers whereby said screw while controlling thetravel of the balls continually exerts a lifting effect upon them andyet permits them to drop through said slot at the gage-points thereofaccurately corresponding to their respective diameters; substantially asdescribed. 1

Signed at New York city, N. Y. this 7th day of July, 1911,

ELMER E, NEAL.

Witnesses BEATRICE MIRVIS, ABRAM BERNSTEIN.

